Tettenhall couple celebrate 70th wedding anniversary with 'real knees up'

Cyril and Dorothy Tongue, from Tettenhall, marked 70 years of marriage at The Firs in Codsall, sharing their special occasion with family and friends.

The couple, who were married at St Andrews church in Whitmore Reans on April 2, 1945, both went to Hordern Road School in Newbridge, but only met once they had left.

They got to know one another after a chance encounter at West Park and would frequent ballroom dancing clubs around the city as their relationship blossomed.

Speaking on what has kept the two together for so long, Dorothy, now 89, said: "We always tell each other how much we love one another.

"We have always done that, every day we have been married.

"I think we are very alike and work well together."

Aside from their shared interest in dancing, they list their close family as a primary reason for their longevity.

The pair have a daughter, Jennifer and a son Barry, as well as three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Jennifer said: "It was lovely growing up with my parents as an example.

"They showed me and my brother how important it was to cherish being in love.

"One piece of advice they always gave me to grow up with was never go to bed on an argument."

Husband Cyril said the pair had a packed schedule to celebrate their 70th anniversary.

He said: "We had a real knees up with lots of extended family and friends in Codsall the week before our actual anniversary.

"On the night itself we just went out with our close family.

"I think we have managed to stay together for so long simply because we get on so well.

"It is like we have the same brain sometimes, we can speak for one another and know instinctively how the other is feeling."

"Maybe it is because we are both Aquarius, I was born in February and Dorothy was born in January."